The World's First Directly Solar-Powered Air Conditioning Unit Unveiled in Dezhou, China

Author: EE Times-Staff

Source From: EE Times

Posted Date: 2010-09-17

DEZHOU, China, September 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 16th, 2010, the 2010 World Solar-Powered Air Conditioning Development Forum was held in Dezhou, a municipality of China's Shandong Province. He Zuoxiu, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Zhang Yaoming, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Qin Hong, deputy director of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development's Center for Policy Studies, and envoys from the China-based embassies of more than ten countries were among the more than five hundred people in attendance at the conference. During the conference, Shandong Vicot Air Conditioning Co., Ltd. unveiled the world's first directly solar-powered air conditioning unit. Experts and academics present at the conference unanimously agreed that Vicot's solar-powered air conditioning unit is a great innovation in China's solar-powered technologies sector, and an extremely significant step forward for the industry's future strategy and development.

The great potential of the solar-powered air conditioning industry: technological innovation represents significant breakthrough

Relevant organizations have predicted that by 2060, the world will be faced with the cruel reality of an almost complete exhaustion of its limited supply of traditional energy sources. If these sources are to be replaced completely by alternative energy sources by 2060, sustainable energy sources should make up 20% of all energy sources by 2010, 30% by 2020, and 50% by 2040. Because of this, all the nations of the world are actively developing new, alternative, and renewable energy sources. Because solar power can be utilized for free, is in abundant supply, does not require transport, and does not pollute the environment at all, everyone agrees that it is the number one choice among environmentally-friendly energy sources to replace oil in the future.

"The release and implementation of China's 'Renewable Energy Law' provides a policy-level guarantee for the development of industries exploiting solar power. The signing of the Kyoto Protocol, promotion of environmental protection policies, and promises made to the international community provide industries exploiting solar power with a great opportunity. China's Grand Western Development Program provides industries exploiting solar power with an immense domestic market. In addition, the adjustment of China's strategic energy plan has led to an increase in governmental support for the development of renewable energy sources. All of these factors represent a great opportunity for development for China's industries exploiting solar power," stated CPPCC Shen Jianguo, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference's (CPPCC) All China Federation of Industry and Commerce and director of the China Non-governmental Enterprise Committee.

He Zuoxiu, academic at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, stated, "China's plan for the development of sustainable energy sources clearly states that by 2020, sustainable energy sources will represent only 15% of energy consumed. Because the development and exploitation of solar power is in line with China's adjustment of industrial structuring as well as its macro-level policies concerning the development of the circular economy, the green economy, and the low-carbon economy, it is safe to say that the development potential of the solar power industry is enormous."

China is the world's largest producer, consumer, and user of solar power; its solar power industry already lays claim to 76% of the world's market. However, currently, most of China's solar power development and use is of solar-powered water heating units. Statistics show that over 5,000 enterprises in China's solar power industry are producers of solar-powered water-heating units.

Solar-powered Air Conditioning Units May Be the Answer to China's Prayers

The solar-powered air conditioning unit revealed by Vicot at this year's 2010 World Solar-Powered Air Conditioning Development Forum boasts an optimal 85% thermal cooling conversion efficiency, and its ability to utilize solar power is twenty-seven times that of the average water heating unit. This solar-powered air conditioning unit allows for 24-hour continuous cooling, heating, and supply of hot water, while natural gas can be used as a supplemental energy supply.

"This solar-powered air conditioning unit is the result of three years of hard work and the pioneering research efforts of Chinese and American scientists and engineers. The product is a fine example of globally cutting-edge technology. Solar-powered air conditioning units can be widely used in low-carbon buildings, and its cost is relatively low, so in 3.5 years, the unit's initial investment can be recouped, and in 6.7, the entire investment can be recovered," remarked Shandong Vicot Air Conditioning Co., Ltd.'s president Li Wen.

China's supply of solar power is abundant; on two-thirds of the nation's surface area, annual solar irradiance exceeds 2,200 hours. These are excellent preconditions for the development of China's solar-powered air conditioning industry. Furthermore, relevant statistics show that consumption of energy by buildings and other structures in China is 27.45% of the country's overall energy consumption, so the incorporation of energy-saving measures in these structures is imminent. Currently, energy consumption in buildings and structures is mainly attributable to heating units (65%), water heating units (15%), electricity (14%), and kitchen appliances (6%).

"Energy consumption by air conditioning units accounts for about 60% of energy consumption in buildings, which is 30 times that of solar-powered water heating units. Therefore, the development of solar-powered central air conditioning will not only bring about a great energy revolution, but will also bring about another technological and industrial revolution," stated Qin Hong, deputy director of the Ministry of Urban-Rural Development's Center for Policy Studies. "As a new product, if the solar-powered air conditioning unit can capture the attention and approval of the market, its future market prospects are vast."

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